Chest infection or not?

[mummalish]

My baby is struggling to get rid of a cold (as diagnosed by doctor). It has been going on for over 2 weeks. No fever, just continuous coughing. Doctor does not see the problem.

I do not know any better, but surely coughing shouldnt go on for 2 weeks without getting any better?

Doctor is not very reassuring and doesnt explain things very well. Am unsure of what to do.

His nappy's have been runny and green for 15 days now (doctor not concerned).

Te coughing is chesty, but he does not bring up any mucous, I steam up the bathroom, have a vapouriser, etc.

Any advice appreciated.

If the GP isn't being helpful and your understandably concerned then i would pop to A&E to be honest.

Yucky nappies for 15 days is a long time and the coughing isn't pleasent.

How old is your DS?

We have been to A&E,they were more helpful, although they said the same thing. They said that if there was no fever, there is no infection, so there is nothing they can do.

I understand that this is a medical opinion, but I just fail to understand how this can be. Coughing and runny poo for so long?

He is 4 months old.

There have been moments that he has gone off his milk, he can have moments of crankiness, but for the most part, he is quite happy and drinking milk, etc.

Not once throughout these last few weeks of illness has he had a fever, even the doc said he was quite suprised.

He seems to have pain in his mouth, although doc has checked his throat.

I am at a loss

When you hold your baby round the chest, do you feel a sort of rattle in his chest when he's breathing? If you can, I'd definitely suspect a chest infection. I can remember my ds1 having a chest infection, and I could feel the rattle in his chest. I also know that I can feel the same rattle in my chest when I get a chest infection - it's the thick mucous caused by the infection rattling when he breathes.

Could it be reflux? That can cause coughing. It is quite unlikely to be an infection without even a low grade fever. I am not sure on the details of reflux but know docs wanted to rule it out with by DS's persstant cough.
Must be miserable for you both

The rattly thing can also be caused by mucus build up in lungs as occurs in asthma, which could also cause a cough. Just another thought.

I would give nhs direct a bell, or go to A&E, you need to know, my dd had bronchilitus at 9 mnths, ask them to give dc a once over, they may see something, he has missed.